Burner and burner control system for glass burn-off machines



Feb. 24, 1953 LDRED I 2,629,205

J. W. E BURNER AND BURNER CONTROL SYSTEM FOR GLASS BURN-OFF MACHINES Filed Dec. 24, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JOHN ELDRED.

ATTK

J. w. ELDRED BURNER AND BURN ER CONTROL SYSTEM Feb. 24, 1953 FOR GLASS BURN-OFF MACHINES v 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 24, 1948 LOAD/N6 ZONE coou/vG UNLOAD/NG ZONE . f INVENTOR.

JOHN WELDRED.

ATTK

Feb. 24, 1953 w ELDRED 2,629,205

J. BURNER AND BURNER CONTROL SYSTEM FOR GLASS BURN-OFF MACHINES Filed Dec. 24, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 8/ j INVENTOR.

77 JOHN 14 ELDRED. I BY 7' J .3 a I 47714 Feb. 24, 1953 w ELDREb 2,629,205

J. BURNER AND BURNER CONTROL; SYSTEM FOR GLASS BURN-OFF MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 24, 1948 INVENTOR. JOHN W ELDRED.

ATTK

INVENTOR.

JOHN VV. ELDRED.

ELDRED BURNER AND BURNER CONTROL SYSTEM FOR GLASS BURN-OFF MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 24,1953

Filed Dec. 24. 1948 Feb. 24, 1953 J. w. ELDRED 2,629,205

- BURNER AND BURNER CONTROL SYSTEM FOR GLASS BURN-OFF MACHINES Filed Dec. 24. 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 I sea 20/ 56B {75 4 3;

1 1 1 LI/ 21155 I am 206'? II.::,'. v V I I05 I :'ul11\ /l 1 m 20 .5614 5% 55/ INVENTORu JOHN W. 54mm Ci J] V M ATTY Patented Feb. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BURNER AND BURNER CONTROL SYSTEM FOR GLASS BURN-OFF MACHINES:

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to automatic machines for manufacturing articles of glassware and specifically to a novel burner and burner-control system. Although the invention is of particular utility as incorporated in or employed in the well-known commercially accepted Eldred thirty spindle tumbler burn-off machine, described and claimed in U. S. Patent No. 2,537,660 issuedJanuary 9, 1951, entitled Apparatus for Thermally severing Moil from Hollow Articles of Glassware, and is herein described as embodied in this burn-off machine, the invention may also be successfully practiced in connection with other burn-off machines. Reference is made to said co-pending application for a detailed description of the machine as a whole, the following specific description being generally confined to the novel burner, the burner-control system, and the parts of the burn-off machine immediately associated with the burners.

In the manufacture of drinking tumblers or the like, the open end of each specimen of formed ware, as it passes from the molding or forming machine, carries a. superfluous integral extension of circular section, known to the art as the moil. The basic function of the burn-off machine is the rapid severance of the moil from the tumbler proper, this operation being rapidly performed on a large number of tumblers as they progress from the forming machine (1. e., from a conveyor-loader system taking the output of the forming machine) to a tempering leer (i. e., to an unloader-conveyor system feeding the output of the burn-off machine to the leer). The burner and burner-control system provided in accordance with this invention are not confined to this environment or to moil-severance for tumblers alone, but are described in such environment and application for'purposes of illustration.

A primary object of my invention is to provide 'a flexible burner for producing a smooth small head on the lip or rim of the tumbler or similar each of which is so arranged as to transport glass ware through successive melting and severing segments while axially rotating the ware in registry with an individual one of the plurality I of burner means, the improvement which resides in a plurality of-brmer means each comp i i a pair of annular separately controlled but superimposed burners, one of which is adapted to generate a melting flame for heating a section of the ware and theother of which is adapted to generate a more intense severing flame for separating the moil from the ware at said sections, said burners having distinct radially inwardly directed sets of flame orifices, said sets being located in close proximity to each other.

The invention provides a mechanism whereby the sizeand finish of the heretofore commercially accepted but excessively large bead may be more effectively controlled and reduced. For a better understanding of the present invention, together withother and further objects, advantages and capabilities thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, in which there is shown an illustrative preferred form of burner and control system in accordance with the invention, as embodied in an Eldred burn-off machine.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a vertical fragmentary sectional view .taken through a burn-off machine as shown in the above-mentioned co-pending application, showing a suitable environment for the burner and. control system provided in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan of the Fig. 1 machine, taken above cam I (Fig. 1), primarily provided for purposes of illustrating the description of the operational zones through which each ,vertical section, showing one, of the chucks, my

novel burner and the moil-gripping means, the latter being in relaxed position;

:Fig. 7 is a similar perspective view showing the moil-grippers in engagement with a moil;

Fig. 8 is a detail side elevational view disclosing conditions which prevail during the initial stretching and severing of the heated moil from the tumbler. proper;

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the final stages of separation of the moil from the tumbler;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of my novel burner per se;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken on line IlH of Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on line l2--l2 ofv Fig. 10.

Referring now to Fig. l of the drawings, there are shown the parts of the above-mentioned burn-off machine with which the burners provided in accordance with the present invention are intimately associated. For purposes of facilitating cross-reference to my said co-pending patent application, common reference numerals are employed and reference numerals not common to both applications are primed. wherever practicable. Attention is first directed to a rotatably-mounted .table or turret 40 and to a ringmember 53 which rotates in unison with the table 40. The machine is mounted on a base 29. Carried by the base is a gear-case 22, in which is rotatably journaled a suitably powered drive shaft 23, carrying a pinion 24. This pinion drives a gear 25, fixed on one end of a vertically journaled shaft A pinion 21 on the other end of this shaft drives a bull-gear 2B, mounting in housing 29. The hub 32 of gear 28 is keyed as by 33 to upstanding main operating shaft 34. Flanged collar .35. secured to shaft 34, is rotatably mounted on bearing 36. Housing 29 is capped by a member 30, having an integral downwardly directed vertical bearing portion for shaft 34.

Positioned on top of and secured to cover 39 is v a bearing 3|. The shaft 34 is reduced at 31 and rigidly secured to the hub 38 of the turret 4B. The table 40 is rotated through the motion train: Prime mover (not shown) 23, 24, 25, 26, 27., 28,

' 32, 34, 39, 4G. The purpose of this rotation is to carry the ware through the operating zones or segments indicated in Fig. 2, hereinafter more fully described.

Attention is next directed to the means for holding and handling the individual pieces of ware, i. e., the chucks 43 (Fig. l) and associated elements. At spaced intervals around the table 49 are rotatably mounted spindles 4|.

' chuck 43 is an associated moil support 59.

Referring now specifically to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the rotation of l the carriage 40 and all ware supported by it is in a clockwise direction, as seen by an observer at the top of the machine. Each piece of formed ware, including moil, is deposited bottom-up on an individual support 59(Fig. l) at the place indicated by the arrow designated Loading Zone (Fig. 2). The deposit or delivery function may be performed by a transfer mechanism such as that disclosed in my U. 8'. Patent No. 2,415,997, issued February 18, 1947. Prior to the instant when each individual support 59 accepts a tumbler, the moil support is in its fully elevated position, the corresponding rod 59 (Fig. 3) is fully elevated to open the grippers I2, 12 and the corresponding chuck 43 is. in elevated position, whereby there is sufficient clearance bedepending from ring 53.

tween the chuck and its associated burner 54' and support 59 to permit insertion of the tumbler between them (Fig. l). The chuck is placed in this position as it leaves the unloading zone. However, after the table .49 rotates beyond the loading zone, the spindle is lowered to grasp the closed end of its tumbler and to impart axial rotation to the tumbler. Rod 69 (Fig. 3) is lowered to cause the fingers 12, E2 to grasp the moil before arrival at the stretching zone.

As the table continues to rotate each tumbler successively passes through a heating zone seg ment (Fig. 2), a stretching zone segment, a severing zone segment and a cooling zone segment, finally being discharged from the table at a point indicated by the arrow marked Unloading Zone; as by apparat'tus shown in my said co-pending patent application. As the ware leaves the severing zone, the associated chuck 43 is elevated, the action being initiated by a cam 1913 (Figs. 1, 2). The burner provided in accordance with my invention is supplied with oxygen and fuel to produce a flame in one temperature range for melting and softening the tumbler section, as the tumbler passes through the heating and stretching zones. This burner is supplied with ovygen and fuel to produce a sharper flame in a higher temperature range for final severing of moil and. tumbler as the tumbler passes through the severing zone. The grooves [02A and [5213 (Figs. 2 and 5) successively control these two actions of the burner by governing its supply of oxygen. As the ware approaches the take-out point or unloading zone, the

severed moilis blown into a chute 86 (Fig. 2) as by an air-blast device 95. As the table 48 continues to rotate the ware finally registers with the unloading zone, the vacuum grip of the chuck 43 on the bottom 46 is relaxed and the ware is removed from the table.

Next is described the means for stretching the moil. It will. be understood that each tumbler 44 as received by my machine comprises a hollow body 45 (Fig. 6) having a closed base end 46 and a corrugated open-ended moil 47.

Each of the chucks 43 is associated with a burner 54' (Fig. 3) supported on the ring member 53. Each burner is placed above and axially aligned with an opening 58 formed in the ring member. Positioned concentrically in each opening 58: is an article support 59, mounted on the upper end of a vertical tube 69, secured in a sleeve Bl, carried by a bracket 62. Bracket 62 is secured by a bolt 63 to another bracket 64 The lower end of each tube 59 is secured to a collar 65 carried by an arm 66, the latter being secured to a sleeve 51, vertically slidably mounted on a rod 68 depending from ring 53. slidably mounted in each tube 8 0 is a rod 59, the upper end of which has integral spaced flanges functioning as sockets for arms ll formed integrally in moil-grippers 72,

pivoted as at 13 on tube 15. The walls of tube l5, depending from the article support 59, are slotted at 14 to permit pivotal movement of grippers 72, 12.

When each tumbler 44 is deposited on its support 59 (Fig. 6), the. grippers are relaxed and the support 59 is in its elevated position. As the tumbler departs from the heating zone (Fig. 2), its physical state is such that it can be deformed. The fingers 12 are then actuated to engage and stretch the moil (Fig. '7). The engaging function is prompted by downward movement of rod 69, relative to tube 60, under the influence of aeaaeos compression spring I8, disposed between washer 11, secured to rod 69, and bracket 66. The relaxation of the grippers I2, on the other hand, is effected by cam I9 (Fig. 1) which elevates rod 69 in preparation for reception of a tumbler 44 on support 59.

The low surface of cam I9 permits rod 69 to be depressed before the ware reaches the stretching zone.

Secured to arm 66 (Fig. 3) is a roller 86, which follows a cam 8| on the base of the machine (Figs. 1, 3) to elevate elements 61, 66, 65, 6|), 59 for the acceptance of ware 44 on support 59, and to lower support 59 during the stretching operation. It will be seen that the stretching of the ware occurs during the turning of table 40 through the stretching zone segment (Fig. 2). As shown in Figs. 7, 8, the glassware is gripped by fingers I2 during the stretching operation, and stretched by the gravitational pull of elements 59, 60, 69, I5, 61, 80, 66, 65, I8 and 11, the cam surface of cam 8| (Fig. 3) then being low. The molten glass moil is severed by tension and heat from the tumbler proper. After initial gripping of the moil, the support 59 is rotated by the drag of ware 44 on it (it being understood that spindle 4| is then in rotation (Fig. 1)). However, as the moil approaches severance, the pliability of the glass becomes so great that rotation of support 59 relative to its own central axis ceases.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that each tumbler is received when its corresponding chuck 43 (left side, Fig. l) is elevated and its corresponding support 59 (Fig. 3) is also elevated.

It will also be understood that the tumbler is rotated about its own axis as it revolves (Fig. 2) about the central vertical axis (through 34, Fig. 1) of the whole machine, and that the shapes of cams I9 and BI are such that member 69 is lowered to cause the moil to be grasped and ele ments 80 and 66 and associated elements to be lowered by' gravity to stretch the moil-at appropriate times as indicated in Fig. 2. There remains briefly to be described, before detailing the burner features of the present invention, the means for imparting rotary and translatory motion to each chuck 43. Again, this means is described in detail in my said co-pending application. Only one chuck system is herein described in detail, that one being representative of all.

Reference has been made to a plurality of spindles 4| (Figs. 1 and 3) each carrying a chuck 43 (Fig. 3). The lower end of each spindle is threaded at I'I4 (Fig. 3) to engage an interiorly threaded chuck-holder I15, in which is positioned a plate I16, which cooperates with chuck 43 to position ware 44. Holder I75 is externally threaded to engage with an interior-1y threaded lock ring I'I9, the latter being flanged to secure chuck 43 in place. For the purpose of elevating chuck 43 (normally gravitationally-biased downwardly as shown in my co-pending application), there is provided a sleeve I82 carrying a collar I83 (Fig. 3) so arranged that when collar I93 is elevated spindle 4| and chuck 43 are also elevated. It will also be seen hereinafter that collar I63, when elevated, causes cessation of rotation of chuck 43, but when depressed causes axial rotation of chuck 43. The elevation and depression of collar I83 is controlled by a link I84, coupled to the long arm of a bell crank lever I86. The other arm of lever I86 carries a cam roller I89, adapted to follow a, cam plate I96 (Fig. 1) and elevate chuck 43 preparatory to reception of ware 44. The shape of cam I99 (Fig.

2) is suchthat chuck 43 is depressed to grasp the ware after its deposit on the support 59. The chuck is of course elevated to release the ware after moil severance and cooling.

Attention is invited to apertures H6 in Fig. 3, air being sucked therethrough to control the grasp of ware 44 during the heating, stretching, severing and cooling operations, and forced therethrough to release the were preparatory to the unloading operation. The suction and pressure are properly timed and controlled by the following elements, specifically described in my said copending application: housing H8 (Fig. 1), main vacuum line I29, stationary ring I23, rotating ring I26, pressure line I9I, chuck service pipe I29, the rings I26 and I23 having provisions for establishing communication between pipe I29 and pipe I26 01' pipe I9I at properly timed intervals, pneumatic housing I33 supported on lug I31 carried by table 49, a valve regulated by adjusting screw I53, and a valve lifter roller I66 arrangement (Fig. l). The valve lifter I66 is cammed upwardly at suitable times to control the creation of suction or pressure, as desired, within tube I63, spindle 4| and chuck 43 An appropriate cam mechanism is shownin my said co-pending application. Pressure is developed at chuck 43 to release ware. A vacuum is there developed to retain ware.

Housing I33 is threaded to engage a depending tube I63, on which spindle 4| is slidably telescoped. Keyed to spindle 4| i a toothed driven clutch member I64 (Fig. 1), adapted to engage a complementary driving clutch member I79, con tinuously driven by chain III.

The operation of the last-described element is such that chuck 43 is axially rotated when it is depressed (right-hand, Fig. 1) and not rotated when it is elevated (left-hand, Fig. 1). It will be understood that, as elements I90, I39, and I66 lift collar I83, tube I82 and spindle 4| upwardly, the latter sliding on vertically-fixed tube I63, clutch member I64 also moves upwardly and interrupts the train or motion tending to rotate chuck 43. Conversely, when chuck 43 and spindle 4| are depressed, axial rotation is imparted to them.

A primary purpose of the above summary description of pertinent portions of a burn-off ma chine for which my burner is ideally suited is to make clear how each item of ware is received, then grasped by the associated chuck as the chuck is depressed-this chuck being axially rotated but vertically fixed in registry with the associated burner-then heated and clamped at the moil and stretched, then severed from the moil, cooled and finally released by the chuck and unloaded. The presentation of each tumbler to, and its motion when in the presence or", the burner being fully understood, the following description is confined to my novel burner.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide a novel burner 54, shown in detail in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. A plurality of these burners are carried by ring 53, an individual burner being axially aligned with each spindle 4|, as best seen in Fig. 1. Referring now specifically to Fig. 5, the open end of each article of received ware is inserted into a central opening 58 in a burner 54, of generally annular shape. The burner pro vides one ring-like flame for melting, softening and fire finishing the ware; This melting flame is preferably furnished by the lower burner memher 55A. The burner provides a second ringlike flame for finally severing the moil from the were The severing flame is of. a higher temperature and sharpness than. the first. Suitable illustrative orders of temperature may be 3000" F. for the first flame and 35004000 F. for the second. The two flames are separately regulated, with the following desirable results:

First, the finish is brought completely under control;

Second, the bead Or lip on the ware is smaller than that formed by prior art machines and methods;

Third, the severing operation is quickly performed and jagged edge rejects are minimized.

The melting flame is applied to the ware exterior section, immediately above the moil, while the were is being transported through the heating and stretching zones (Fig. 2). The ware is subjected to the severing flame while it is passing through the severing zone.

Referring again to Figs. 10, l1 and 12, each burner comprises a cap member 553 and a base member 55A, separated by an annular shim 200. The cap and base members are of generally annular shape and cooperate with the shim to form internal circulating passages 56A, 56'33', in communication with channels ZlH'A, ZMB. These channels communicate with mixing chambers ZGZ'A, ZOZB inmixer shells 96A, 96B, individually concentrically disposed about the burner members 55A, 55B.

Regulators 94A, 94B are tapped into the fuel supply line 93. Oxygen lines ISA and "15B are separately connected to the mixing chambers ZilZ'A, EQZ'B, through the regulator chambers and pipes 296'A, ZBSB.

The internal chambers 56B, 55A communicate with milled burner orifices or ports 51A, 573. A plurality of such transverse ports are provided on the small-diameter faces of each of the main burner members 55A, 55B. Although for purposes of illustration I show the two sets of ports substantially separated in the vertical plane, it will be understood that in actual practice they are quite close together, the vertical separation being preferably of the order of 0.015 inch or less.

The Fig. 11 structure essentially comprises a pair of separately controlled and supplied burners, each provided with a set of transverse flame orifices, the twosets being located in close proximity to each other. The mixer shells 96A, 96B and shim 200' are suitably drilled and tapped for a plurality of bolts 203', by which the burner members are secured in assembly (Fig. 12). Suitable stop-valves 2M'A, 204 3 may be provided to shut oil the two burner systems. Shell 98A is suitably flanged for securely mounting and bolting onto ring 53 (Fig. 3).

The fuel gas is supplied by a suitable source (not shown) to a pipe 90 (Fig. 1), terminating in a gas-tight revolving joint 91, in communication with a head chamber 92, mounted on turret 453. A plurality of gas distribution pipes 93 extend to the individual regulator pairs, such as MA, MB. The regulators are piped to the mixer shells 85A, 9613 by lines 205'A, 20623 (Fig. l), which convey the mixtures of oxygen and fuel to the shells. The regulators are individually manually adjusted to determine the intensity of the flames, being provided with the usual stems for that purpose.

Referring now to Fig. 2, a pilot light is mounted in a fixed position in. proximity to the burners to assure the maintenance of a low-intensity flame in. each burner as it approaches the heating zone.

The flow of oxygen, under pressure, to the regulator is timed in order to cause each burner member 55A to project the melting flame onto the corresponding were as the ware passes through the heating and stretching zones, and to cause each burner member 55B to project the severing flame onto the ware as the Ware passes through the severing. zone. This timing is accomplished by the .mechanism illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

There is mounted on cover 30, around hub 3|, a collar 91, formed with a cylindrical vertical portion 98. Supported on the horizontal flange 99 of the collar 91 are concentric distributor rings #00 and HM, individually formed with slots IQZA, 162B, which commmunicate with oxygen-supply pipes 33A, I033, respectively, the latter leading to a source of oxygen under pressure (not shown).

Mounted on the rings Hi9, ml is a rotating valve ring I04, joined for rotation with turret 40 and ring member 53 by a plurality of oxygenconducting pipes WA, [053 which extend from the valve ring, (M to the associated regulators 84A, 843. These pipes communicate with channels lll'iA, 073 in the valve ring and these channels register with. slots 12A, IUZB, respectively, at the proper times. That is, oxygen passes from pipe lii3A through slot [82A to pipe [65A and ultimately to each burner member 55A as that member passes through the heating an stretching zones. Similarly, oxygen passes from pipe 33B through slot I023 to pipe 353, and ultimately to each burner member 5513 as that member passes through the severing zone. The arcuate lengths of: slots NBA and 32B correspond in degrees to the operating zones of burner members 55A, 5513 respectively. When a burner passes through the cooling, unloading and loading zones the oxygen supply to it is out off by high surfaces of rings Hill, lfil.

Valve ring N14 is formed on its under surface with concentric ribs Hi8 which enter complementary grooves I09 formed in the upper surfaces of the rings I60 and it)! to produce a gastight seal. The valve ring is held down on the distributor rings by an annulus H6 secured to portion 93 of collar 91. The annulus is formed with a depending circular rib I l i, received in a complementary groove provided in a wear ring H2 disposed on top of the valve ring ltd. Closefitting engagement between the valve ring 104 and the distributor rings I00, I81 is also maintained by the provision of coil springs I 53, which are mounted in sockets provided in the collar 9"! and press upwardly against the under sides of the rings Hill and II]! to produce a close running fit, eliminating oxygen leakage and compensating for wear.

In accordance with one of its specific aspects the invention provides in a rotary burn-off machine of the type including a plurality of spindles and so arranged as to transport ware through successive melting and severing zones while axially rotating the ware in registry with a burner, the improvement which resides in a pair of annuiar separately controlled but superimposed burners, one of which is adapted to generate a melting flameand the other of which is adapted to generate a more intense severing flame, said burners having distinct inwardly directed sets of flame orifices, said sets being located in close proximity to each other.

While there has been shown what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and substitutions of equivalents may be made without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a rotary burn-off machine of the type including a plurality of ware-holding spindles each of which is so arranged as to transport inverted glass ware through successive melting and severing segments while axially rotating the ware in registry with an individual one of a plurality of burner means, the improvement which resides in a plurality of burner means each comprising a pair of annular separately controlled but super-- imposed and abutting one-piece burners each completely encircling the ware, the lower one of which is formed with horizontally and inwardly-directed radial ports and creates a heat zone circumferentially of the ware to melt it during passage through the melting segment, and the upper one of which is formed with horizontally and inwardly-directed radial ports and intensifies said heat zone during passage of the ware through the severing segment thereby'to separate the moil from the ware, the two sets of ports being in parallel planes and spaced by 0.015" or less.

2. In a rotary burn-off machine of the type including a rotary carriage and plurality of wareholding spindles each of which is so arranged as to transport ware through successive melting and severing segments while axially rotating the ware, the improvement comprising, in combination, a first like plurality of annular burners each formed with a set of horizontally and inwardly directed radial flame orifices for creating a heat section circumferentially of a piece of ware to melt it during passage through the melting zone, a second like plurality of annular burners each formed with a set of horizontally and inwardly directed radial flame orifices for circumferentially severing the moil from the ware at the heat section during the passage through the severing zone each of the annular burners abutting another annular burner to form a dual burner with closely spaced sets of ports, a pair of fixed concentric valve plates, a complementary circular valve plate mounted for rotation adjacent said fixed plates and in synchronism with said carriage, a source of oxygen, a first plurality of oxygen feed lines connected between the complementary plate and the first set of burners, a second plurality of oxygen feed lines connected between the complementary plate and the second set of burners, means including a groove in one fixed plate having an arcuate length corresponding to the melting segment for placing in communication with said source of oxygen. those of the first plurality of the feed lines which are associated with burners in said melting segment, and means including a groove in the other fixed plate having an arcuate length corresponding to said severing segment for placing in communication with said source of oxygen those of the second plurality of said feed lines which are associated with burners in said severing segment.

3. In a rotary burn-off machine of the type including a plurality of ware-holding spindles each of which is so arranged as to transport inverted glass ware through successive melting and severing segments while axially rotating the ware in registry with an individual one of a plurality of burner means, the improvement which resides in a plurality of burner means each comprising a pair of annular separately controlled but superimposed and abutting one-piece burners each completely encircling the ware, one of which is formed with horizontally and inwardly directed radial ports and creates a heat zone circumferentially of the ware to melt it during passage through the melting segment, and the other one of which is formed with horizontally and inwardly directed radial ports and intensifies said heat zone during passage of the ware through the severing segment thereby to separate the moil from the ware, the two sets of ports being in parallel planes and spaced by 0.015 inch or less.

JOHN W. ELDRED.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 344,987 Redmayne July 6, 1886 822,932 Ennis June 12, 1906 1,359,417 Musser Nov. 16, 1920 1,577,543 Schrader Mar. 23, 1926 1,645,991 Higgins Oct. 18, 1927 1,723,107 Wildeboer Aug. 6, 1929 2,116,129 Stringer May 3, 1938 2,349,822 Gardner May 30, 1944 2,402,452 Schreiber June 18 1946 2,403,142 Turner July 2, 1946 2,416,121 Schreiber et al Feb. 18, 1947 2,439,754 Schutz Apr. 13 1948 

